Budget Issues: The President's Current Services Budget
AFMD-87-10
Published: Dec 02, 1986. Publicly Released: Jan 05, 1987.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the current services budget to determine: (1) whether procedures for developing current services estimates complied with the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974; and (2) how to improve the usefulness of current services estimates to Congress.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| If the requirement for a current services budget is retained, Congress should amend the budget act to specifically define the set of policies to be assumed in developing the current services estimates. While judgment is always required in making budget estimates, the use of a defined set of policies would ensure a common understanding between Congress and OMB as to what the current services budget represents, making it a more useful budgetary tool. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
The administration and Congress use baseline estimates that conform to the requirements of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings legislation. To alleviate confusion resulting from multiple baselines, the current services baseline is no longer used. |
| For the current services budget to best serve the purpose of providing a baseline for highlighting the fiscal effects of policy changes proposed in the President's budget, Congress should use the most current policy reflected in law to develop it. Congress should specifically define current policy at a sufficient level of detail to ensure that OMB provides the type of information that would be useful to Congress as a baseline. The definition of the budget base in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 is an example of the detail required in such a definition. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
The administration and Congress use baseline estimates that conform to the requirements of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings legislation. To alleviate confusion resulting from multiple baselines, the current services baseline is no longer used. |
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Topics
Allocation (Budget Act)Budget authorityBudget outlaysCurrent services estimatesFuture budget projectionsPresidential budgetsPresidential proposalsReporting requirementsBudgetsImpoundment control